01/08/09, 02:03:26 UTC

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Cape to adopt code to curb 2010 sex tourism

int.iol.co.za

Cape Town, now considered one of the world's top 10 sex tourism destinations, has agreed to adopt an international code of conduct to discourage the practice.

Measures to prevent the use of hotels and tourist spots for the commercial exploitation of children will also be part of Cape Town Tourism's planning and visitor strategy for 2010, when sex tourism is expected to boom.

"Unconfirmed reports say that Cape Town rates among the top 10 sex tourism destinations. Here you can order anything from an uncut diamond, fresh sushi and a 10-year old boy delivered to your door in less than 20 minutes. This is the ugly side of tourism," said Mariette du Toit-Helmbold, chief executive officer of Cape Town Tourism (CTT).

"It takes only a global event like the Fifa Soccer World Cup, a few thousand extra visitors and a vulnerable society to accelerate this rot and spin our destination out of control," she said.

Du Toit-Helmbold announced at a workshop held with Fair Trade Tourism South Africa (FTTSA) that CTT would work with other hospital industry bodies, such as the South African Tourism Services Association, Fedhasa and the South African Association for the Conference Industry, to prevent child sex tourism.

CTT, with over 2 300 tourism and related industry members, is one of the largest and most representative voluntary tourism associations in the world.

Du Toit-Helmbold said CTT would adopt this code and develop a written company policy for sex tourism. It would also establish an ethical policy with practical guidelines about sex tourism, with particular focus on the commercial sexual exploitation of women and children.

The prevention of child sex tourism will also be included in membership criteria, she said. Visitors will be given information pamphlets at hotels and visitor information centres about the risks of engaging in sex tourism.

"Our message must be very clear. Cape Town welcomes the world to our beautiful destination, but visitors who engage in sexual exploitation of women and children are not welcome."

Of CTT's decision to sign the code, she said: "There has never been a more opportune time in tourism, but the industry and our society have also never been faced with such an urgent need to address the triple bottom line - investing in firm principles of ethical behaviour, management and lifestyle."

Kenya is the only other country in Africa to have adopted the code, a set of six criteria that tourism bodies agree to uphold in a bid to curb child sex tourism.

Jennifer Seif, FTTSA executive director said: "… Cape Town Tourism can play a critical role in driving the implementation of the code of conduct, ensuring that a barrier of entry is established."

 Printable Version  | published Aug 27, 2007